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When the chew tube isn't enough

post #1 of 11
10/13/10 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
I wonder what's next for my school aged kiddo for whom a chew tube really isn't enough right now. Are there any other options to meet this need for input? Gum is probably out. Does anyone have any ideas?
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post #2 of 11
10/13/10 at 10:47pm
why would gum be out? Most schools allow it now, especially for special needs students.

If they don't, frozen dried fruit or harder gummies would though you're adding calories & sugar.
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post #3 of 11
10/13/10 at 10:56pm
what about a z-vibe? It's got changable chewy attachments and it vibrates.
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post #4 of 11
10/13/10 at 10:58pm
Thread Starter 
I should probably say that gum is potentially an option, just not one that's been allowed in the classroom before. Frankly, I can't really think of another option as good as gum, so perhaps I should push for this a bit more.
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post #5 of 11
10/14/10 at 10:17am
I don't know if this is an option, but there are chewies that offer a lot more resistance than chew tubes.
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post #6 of 11
10/14/10 at 2:12pm
I'd push for gum. Gum seems much more appropriate than a chewy tube by the time a kid is in school anyhow.
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post #7 of 11
10/14/10 at 6:08pm
http://www.chewelry.ca/shop.html

I would get the longer necklace; the short one is very short.
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post #8 of 11
10/16/10 at 10:09pm
A couple of things I would recommend is sending your child to school with hard crunchy snacks: raw carrots, granola.

Also look at why is he chewing? Is it calming, is he anxious, is he seeking oral motor input. If its anxiety work on helping him recognize those feelings and develop other ways of self calming, perhaps playing w/ a fidget My favorite is the tangle relax I blogged about it here:
http://cafebonnie.blogspot.com/2010/...-toy-ever.html

If he’s in class I would recommend a chewy pencil topper. They are clear and tend to work well in the classroom.
http://www.nationalautismresources.com/cheweze.html

If you do expect anxiety you should check out on Amazon Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Manage Anxiety. It's a workbook that a parent can easily use w/ their child.
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post #9 of 11
10/17/10 at 1:18am
The chewy pencil topper is good but I would push for them to allow gum, even as part of his IEP or 504 plan.

I had a student last year who used gum and it made such a difference! You'd think it might be an issue but it never was. He always threw it away independently when done, it never got stuck anywhere it shouldn't, and no one ever complained that he was getting gum and they weren't.
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post #10 of 11
10/17/10 at 11:18am
I second the gum & pencil topper!

We had a student that chewed gum adn /or sucked on tic tacs. As long as they were quiet no one fussed about it.

The pencil topper is a great alternative to chewed up pencil (or hair chewers for girls) or pen.
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post #11 of 11
10/18/10 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emmeline II View Post
http://www.chewelry.ca/shop.html

I would get the longer necklace; the short one is very short.
thank you so very, very much for that link. i was hoping to find a chewer that was non-toxic. my dd is almost 5 so she rips holes in all the organic fabric chewers within a couple days. i really appreciate this!
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